There’s no shortage of great city festivals to head to across the UK, let alone Europe. However, let us tell you a bit about an especially strong one, one that we’re very excited to be attending later this month…

It’s Left of the Dial, in the beautiful city of Rotterdam. The festival takes place over three days, from October 17th to the 19th and spans around twenty different venues across the city, ranging from bars to theatres to churches and even boats. Think Brighton’s The Great Escape, or Wrexham’s FOCUS Wales. It covers a range of genres, with acts from all over the world (although it’s fair to say that close to half are coming over from the UK) with an indie/alternative focus, with a focus on sharp, zeitgeist-y flavours like post-punk, shoegaze, alt-folk along with myriad other genre-busting styles.

Speaking of unique flavours, there’s also such delights as Bands On A Boat; a self-explanatory daily gig/boat trip onto the river Maas, film screenings, including of Kneecap and Blur: To The End, the intriguing Moshpit Etiquette Session, teaching a crash-course in mosh moves, a city-wide scavenger hunt and also something called Daytime Dancing, where “the first 50 dancers receive free bear ears”. You’ll have to figure that last one out for yourselves.

Something else worth highlighting, because it’s a genuinely ingenious idea, is Left of the Dial’s merch press. Due to Brexit-caused import costs, it’s a lot more difficult for UK acts to bring their merch overseas, so the festival’s brilliant solution is for bands to send them their designs in advance, then print the merch on the spot, with all proceeds going to the musicians and at no extra cost. If you’re going, head to New Binnenweg 13b to check out this cool idea in action.

Last but not least, it wouldn’t be a multi-day city festival without a conference. This year the festival hosts talks from professionals like Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Black Midi producer), Mark Bent (founder of Mother Artists, managers of Idles and 86TVs), numerous artists playing at Left Of The Dial 2024, along with the festival organisers.

For those going and looking for some tips, we’ve put together a list of acts that we’re particularly excited about seeing. In accordance with the international focus of the festival, we’re including acts from a huge range of countries, with a particular eye on those that are all but guaranteed to provide a great live experience. The list is of course, not comprehensive, but aims to offer a representative range of the exciting, zeitgeist-riding music Left of the Dial has curated for their 2024 edition.

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Benefits – Perron Small, Thursday 17th, 20.00 – 20.40 & Waalse Kerk, Saturday, 21.30 – 22.10

Rotterdam is about to be treated to two shows from the formidable Benefits; the Teeside noise punks whose live act is a sight to behold. The ferocious trio wield an audacious sound, fusing frontman Kinksley Hall’s spoken (and sometimes screamed) poetry eviscerating the state of modern Britain with music that tilts from post-punk to hip-hop to black metal. An incendiary band armed with a killer live show.

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Man/Woman/Chainsaw – Rotown, Thursday 17th, 22.20 – 23.00 / Arminius, Friday 18th, 17.30 – 18.10

These guys need no introduction and will surely be one of the most talked-about acts at the festival. Man/Woman/Chainsaw are an indescribable-great young band, playing a forward-thinking brand of indie rock that can only (and somewhat reductively) be described as ‘Black Country, New Road but heavy’. A simply essential band to catch and a booking that sums up Left of the Dial’s acute eye for rising acts.

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Wild Pink – Roodkapje Front, Thursday 17th, 19.20 – 20.00 / Tr8 Right, Friday 18th, 18.40 – 19.20

One of the bigger names at this year’s festival, Brooklyn’s Wild Pink are indie perfection, fusing alt-country and 90s fuzzy alt rock into an irresistible concoction. The band have a new record out (‘Duelling The Horns’) via UK label Fire Talk, so expect plenty from that excellent album, along with a plethora of tracks from the cult band’s growing discography.

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Mermaid Chunky – Worm 2, Thursday 17th, 19.50 – 20.30 / 160K Arcade, Friday 18th, 22.00 – 22.40 / De Doelen Up,Saturday 18th, 21.20 – 22.00

Expect pure fun from Gloustershire’s DFA-signed Mermaid Chunky. The duo make weird, wonderful psych pop/electronica, but it’s all about their incredible live show, which has been cited as highlights of UK fests like Green Man and End Of The Road this summer. Featuring wild visuals, costumes, backing dancers and audience participation; there’s simply no reason not to catch these guys at Left of the Dial.

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Kerosene Kream – Roodkapje Expo, Friday 18th, 22.30 – 23.10 / Centraal, Saturday 19th, 18.00 – 18.40

This is a slightly off-piste tip, however, this author caught Kerosene Kream at Gothenburg’s lovely Viva Sounds last year and is very keen to catch the stellar Swedish band again. They sound like (to quote myself) “Osees-esque psych-punk” and their live show is appropriately fun and energetic. Roodkapje Expo looks like the perfect stripped-back, intimate arts space for them to pack out and set dancing.

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Meryl Streek – Perron Big, Friday 18th, 23.30 – 00.10 / Worm 1, Saturday 19th, 16.30 – 17.10

Meryl Streek is awesome. If you’re unfamiliar; the Irish act is a punk-rap agitator, not a million miles away from the aforementioned Benefits, expect he commands the stage (and crowd, which he spends most of the time in) solo and with expert aplomb. An angry, impassioned and vital act that will set your pulse racing.

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Knives – Perron Big, Thursday 17th, 22:30 – 23:10

Among the least well-known acts on this list, Bristol’s Knives are a killer young band that are among the heaviest acts on Left of the Dial’s 2024 bill. Imagine Idles if they were into mathcore and you’re someway there. The hard-touring band are effortlessly great performers, full of on-stage energy and humour. Definitely check them out if you’re looking for something a bit heavier, but still seriously fun.

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Left of the Dial runs from October 17th to 19th.

WORDS: Tom Morgan